Single train, cast
iron plate and spacer frame design. Graham deadbeat escapement. One second wooden rod
pendulum. Bolt and shutter type maintaining power. Movement equipped with 30 second
differential type gravity remontoire. Single day duration, i.e. movement has three verses
the conventional four wheel eight day style. But could be made to run eight days in a
conventional tower clock setting with additional compounding of the weight through
pulleys. 13 1/2"w x 21 3/4"h x 12"d.

The smaller tower clocks, particularly from Germany, often had only three wheeled
trains. This configuration offered a cheaper design, not just from the elimination of one
wheel, but the general avoidance of greater precision in the overall fabrication of the
movement that accompanies the addition of a wheel. Each wheel adds greatly to the power
needed from the bottom of the train, the drive barrel or spring in a conventional domestic
clock, to drive the top of the train - the escapement. All things being equal this power
requirement can increase by a factor of ten for each wheel. Therefor, minimizing friction
becomes paramount and here enters the fabrication costs. Theoretically one could add five
or six wheels to the train to get a month or even a full year, but the practicalities of
doing this outweigh the advantages. However, year going domestic tall case and other
clocks are known, but rare and expensive for these reasons.

This example is from an obscure German maker. The outstanding feature on this clock is
the maker's use of an extensively skeletonized and nicely executed curvilinear frame
cutouts with scallop and spur outlines. It always fascinates me the extent that some tower
clock makers went through to make their movements look attractive. This only adds to the
cost with no possible improvement in the clock's performance. Obviously the reason is to
impress the buyer, but to think that after this initial appraisal from the owner is
finished, the magnificently made machine is nearly always and forever thereafter
unavailable to be seen by anyone other than the clock's maintenance personnel. For other
outstanding examples of this practice see, the German makers Ritzert, Schweppenhäser. French makers Cretin, Gugumus. Czech maker,
Hainz and US maker Howard.